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ZACH OSBORNE
250 SX / 4TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / PINTOR DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> As we all know the Daytona Supercross track changes every lap. The riders can train all
year at a variety of tracks, but you never know what’s going to happen at Daytona International Speedway. This year’s track was a little bit different. Instead of having a lot of clay dirt they had replaced the clay with dirt. This changed the entire feel and rhythm of the track. Meaning that the faces of jumps and whoops were going to break down easier than they would with a clay dirt. That didn’t matter to Zach Osborne though. It seemed as if Daytona was built for Zach and t
him perfectly. Even though the number one plate didn’t have the best lap time in qualifying you could tell he was ready to dominate the main event and continue his points lead. Only two points ahead of Austin Forkner on the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki team Osborne is hungry for that win at Daytona, Florida. Heat number one and the thirty second board drops. Osborne ies out of the gate holding his Rockstar Husqvarna pinned. Not even a full lap in and the Rockstar Enegry Husqvarna rider gets into the rst position. Leading the heat race in rst with a huge gap on everyone the red ag is own due to an injured rider down and all the riders have to pull off the track. Calling the race of cial, due to the amount of laps that were completed Osborne takes the win at Daytona for heat race one. Poised perfectly for the main event Zach gets ready to maintain his points lead. Main event comes and Osborne can’t pull a start together. Starting nearly last off the gate Osborne puts his head down and goes to work trying to pass as many riders as possible. Minutes in and Osborne pushes himself through other riders and nds himself in 7th. Coming in hot, the Husqvarna rider passes Sean Cantrell without hesitation. Continuing to push himself and his bike the number one continues to gain as he sets the fastest lap time on the track. Flying past Martin Davalos gaining the fourth spot Osborne chases down Austin Forker as the clock counts down with only ve minutes and a lap to go. Osborne sees the green Kawasaki of Austin Forkner and chases him down. With only two laps to go Zach still sets the fastest lap time, but is 2 sec- onds behind Forkner. Final lap and the Husqvarna rider makes a mistake in the sand and loses his grip on Forkner. Osborne will nish in fourth place at Daytona International Speedway.
36 GRITMOTO • MARCH 11, 2018